8/6/2019 #1 of Four - Why Us
1/2
The rstoffour lettersexplaining our return tofull-time
missions.
Whether you know us well, or are just now beingintroduced to us
through a mutual friend, we're writing tobring you into what God is
continuing to do in our livesand in France.
In2005weattendedaprayerconferenceinParisBe careful what you pray
for.(And especially whom you pray with!)
DuringtheconferencehostedbyWorldTeamwespenttendaystravellingaroundtheParisareaprayingwithFrenchChristians.Nowourgoalistobeamongthenumberofthoseforwhomweprayed.
Thosewhowereclosetoustookitinstridewhenweannouncedourdesiretogobackintofull-timeministrythistimeaschurchplantersinFrance,withWorldTeamasoursendingagency.
Inthemid80s,wewerepartofCampusCrusadeforChrist'sartdepartment.In1989RusselljoinedMoodyBibleInstitutesin-houseadagencyasseniordesignerandstaffillustrator.Wenowlivethefreelancelifeandcontinuetoworkinboththesecular,andsacred,communities.OneofourbestclientsoverthelastdecadehasbeentheNazarenePublishingHouse,forwhomwedesignandillustratechildren'scurriculum.Inadditiontographicdesign,wetaughtpottery,paintinganddrawingtochildrenandadultsoutofourhomefortenyears.Ourpottery,andthatofourstu-dents,hasbeenondisplayinseveralgalleriesintheKansasCityarea.
Q: Are you artists or missionaries?
A: Yes.
C:IdevelopedathirstformissionsintheBaptistchurchIgrewupinthroughinvolvementintheGirlsAuxiliary.ForveyearsIservedasWomensMinistryProgramDirectoratOlatheBibleChurch.Myinvolvementinwomen'sministrieshasgivenmethechancetomentorseveraloftheyoungerwomenthere.RussellandIwillcontinuetoteachandmentorwhereverGodleadsus.Myspiritualgiftsaredministration,
Faith,andHospitality.
USSE:WhenIwastenorelevenyearsold,aftertheeveningserviceatchurchcamp,Iwasatthealtarpraying,seekingGod'sblessing,andwaspreparedtoprayallnightifthat'swhatittook.WhatHegavemethatnightIcarriedawaywithmeintotheyearsahead:1)Iwouldbeanartist;2)Iwouldbeapreacher;3)Iwouldbeamissionary;4)I
would do all this at the same time in an unconventional
way.Itwasdifculttocommunicatemyveryrealcallingtothosearoundme.Mymotherjustheardtheword"pastor"andwassatised.
Iwasordainedintotheministryin1986byfelloweldersatBalesBaptistChurchinKansasCitywhenwelefttojoinCampusCrusade.Mostrecently,IservedontheelderboardatOlatheBibleChurchandtaughtintheHomebuildersyoungadultclass.MyspiritualgiftsarePastor/Shepherd,TeachingandHospitality.
In 2005
we attended a
prayer conference
in Paris
Be careful what
you pray for.
And especially whomyou pray with!
The act of creation is alink to God. When wecreate, He is
gloriedwhether we are aware
of it or not.
8/6/2019 #1 of Four - Why Us
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Then I heard the voiceof the Lord saying,
Whom shall I send?And who will go for
us? Then I said, Here
am I, send me!Isaiah 6:8
Attendingthe2005ParisPrayerConferencechangedusforever.Wereturnedhomeand,inOctoberofthatyear,foundourselvesatWorldTeam's
ReciprocalAssessment&CandidateEvaluation(R.A.C.E.).DuringthetendaysofR.A.C.E.,
wewerecarefullyexaminedandwereaskedtoexamineWorldTeaminreturn.
Theydiscoveredacoupleofthingsaboutusthatwereessentialtosuccessfulchurchplantersasense
of humorandtheability to deal with
ambiguity.Carol'sadministrativeskillswerenotedandguredheavilyinWorldTeam'sdeci-siontoinviteustojointheirranks.InRussell'scasethedecisionwasn'tbasedsolelyonhisabilitytopreachandteach."You're
glue. Whenever you are in a group, it works
better."WeneverlostourheartforFrance.InOctoberof'06wewereinvitedtoParisforarequiredeldvisit.Duringthosetendayseveryonecametothesameconclusion:We
needed to pursue France as our ministry
focus.Inthethreeletterstofollowwe'lleshoutmoreofwhatthatmeansforus,butthefollowinginformationwillhelpyougetahandleonwhatwillllourdays.
Job
DescriptionWewillbeinvolvedinplantingachurchwithintheParismetroarea,whichwouldinclude,preaching
and teaching the Word,developing relationships and sharing the
Gospel within the
community,serving,discipleshipandtraining.
Weplanongettinginvolvedincommunity arts
programs.TheFrenchlovethearts.InFrance,youneedanintroductionbeforeyoucanbeginbuildingrelationships.Pottery,paintinganddrawinggiveuscredibility,andare
our personaltickets into this
subculture.Ifyouhearustalkaboutvisitingoneofthemuseums,we're
not just admiring the artwe're fishing.
WorldTeamismovingitsinternationalheadquarterstoParis.Theprofessionalskillswe'veaccumulatedovertheyearswillbecalledupon.RussellwillhelpWorldTeamwithgraphic
design.Thisletterisasampleofourwork.
rganization and
administrationareindeedCarol'sgifts.Shewillhelpfacilitate
eventssuchasprayerconferences,internships,seminars,etc.
More to Come
Weneedbrothersandsisterswhowillrememberus,walkthroughourministrywithus,andprayforus.Watchyourmailbox!Wewillbesendingthreemoreletters
withinthenextfewweekstellingyoumoreaboutourcalltoFrance. But,
you don't have to wait for those
letters.Logontowww.parisbarrs.blogspot.com.Ourentirestorycanbefoundthere.Betteryet,we'dlovetositdownovercoffeeortalkwithyouoverSkype.Giveusacall!Fornow,wethankyouforyourinterestandhopetotalktoyousoon.
Untilnexttime!Russell & Carol Barr
[email protected] www.parisbarrs.blogspot.com
800-967-71091431StuckertRd.
Warrington,PA18976www.worldteam.org
2008 Women inthe Word Retreat
sponsored by OlatheBible Church.
Summer Wedding
